HELPING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH PARENT EDUCATION, A SURVEY OF RESEARCH.

CHILMAN, CATHERINE S.; KRAFT, IVOR

THE CHILD LIFE STUDIES BRANCH OF THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU MADE AN INFORMAL SURVEY OF PARENT EDUCATION FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1961 TO 1963. PARENT EDUCATION IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE HOUSEKEEPING, STRENGTHEN INTERFAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, REINFORCE FAMILY-SCHOOL UNDERSTANDING, AND IMPROVE PERSONAL SKILLS. PRACTITIONERS RECOMMEND A BOLD AND ASSERTIVE STYLE OF LEADERSHIP AND THE MAINTENANCE OF FRANKNESS AND TRUST. AS A RESULT OF THE SURVEY AND REPORTS OF PROGRAMS, IT WAS FOUND THAT SOME PROGRAMS HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL, INCLUDING DISCUSSION GROUPS, RECREATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND WORKSHOP TYPE ACTIVITIES. ACTIVITY PROGRAMS SEEMED TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN DISCUSSION. WORKERS REPORTED DIFFICULTIES IN ORGANIZING AND SUSTAINING PROGRAMS. THE ABSENCE OF OBJECTIVE METHODS OF EVALUATION MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REPORT ON THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SUCCESS WAS FREQUENTLY GAUGED NOT ACCORDING TO ANNOUNCED PRACTICAL GOALS BUT ACCORDING TO CERTAIN INFERRED THERAPEUTIC SIDE-EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATION, SUCH AS SELF-CONFIDENCE. A FEW DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS OFFERED SLIGHT OR NO EVIDENCE THAT PARENT EDUCATION IS EFFECTIVE IN ALTERING ATTITUDES OR BEHAVIOR OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. HIGHLY EXPERIENCED PARENT EDUCATORS SHOULD NOT UNDERTAKE SUCH EFFORTS EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF CAREFUL AND CLEARLY ADEQUATE RESOURCES. (APPENDIX INCLUDES A SELECTIVE REVIEW OF PROGRAMS AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY.) (AJ)